Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-29
no wAa THls spRINe.
That Is The opinion OF Archibald
Forbes, the Famous Correspondent.

IbHt - the Oplnfou o. AIt11 Daiu
Forbes, the Famous correspondent.
Archibald Forbes. who Is regarded
here as the prince 81 war correspond
ents. Is very positive that there will be
no war. writes a London correspond
cnt Of Tie Mem Jiork World. 1t will be
remembered that he married last year
in Washington the daughter of Gen.
Meigs, and, happy as he is in his do
nestle relations and suffering as he
does from rheumatism contracted in
in the last Russo Turkish war. he would
not probably take the field in case hos
tilities should begin. Nevertheless. he
is an acute observer and few men are
as we'll informed as he as to the fighting
capacity OF any and all powers. Peace
will not be disturbed this spring" he
said yesterday when called upon him.
There will be no outbreak between
France and Germany. Indeed. through
all this talk of war, | have never
thought it probable. y
"Whyp" asked.
It
to attack and Bismarck is sincere in
his profession of peace If he had not
been he would have accepted three
year army bill instead Of insisting TO
the last extremity on the septenate.
If he had really meant 10 provoke war
| Immediately three years would be am
| pie time in which to crush France and
have done with if. You see, there
could not be long war. In truth there
could not be more than one campaign.
| More than one would be too much for
| the financial resources of either coun-
try. 50 terri bly, expensive would war be
now. Nobody in Germany wants war.
They did not want it in 1870. But il
was forced upon them and they struck
back with terrible impetuosity and eff
feet. 1t would be tenfold worse now
The French know it and they have
counted the cost and are going to keel
| quiet =
/ .sOf course you are well acquainted
Mr.. Forbes, with the French and Ger
man frontier and the defenses on boil
sides. If war should occur. what d
you think would be the line of action?
..As sad, France does not mean t
attack, and if she did. do not see no,
she could ever break the Germ@n lin
OF Notifications, which is much strong
er now than 1870. and i believe
would be almost as impossible for tn
Germans to break through the Frenc
lines. which have been greatly strength
ened. you know. The point of actu;
contact between France and German
8 is quite narrow. and tn has been fol-
, tilted on both sides to the utmost linn
of engineering skill. think Bismarck
, idea would be. not TO break throug
the French lines. but to go aroun
through Belgium and strike France 0
Il n frontier that is almost defenseless
am sure he has long been trying
square himself with Belgium, that h
I, might do this with her consent.
Y fact he wanted to have Belgium con
:, into the German empire and be ;
W much part of it us Bavaria. His arg
T. ment was that it would be better fl
- Belgium to have the guarantee of &c
, many than to be under sort of pr
a tecting egis of the great powers, whit
!. really amounts TO no protection ut a
* Belgium. however. preferred to be i
!, dependent and rejected the advances
70 Bismarck. l do not doubt. thou;
n that the German army woul marc
sr right through her territory to alta
n France. if she thought it II militia
&c necessity"
~ But would not that involve G'
IN many in war with England, who W
tie one of the signatories OF the treaty
ne Paris of1S15, by which the neutrality
IS Belgium was guaranteeds'
"a THAT treaty amounts t. no.hin
~ There is not power in Europe Ii
I'd would fight to preserve the neutral
As of Belgium under that treaty. En-
IL land would not. England will fight
II, nothing except. possibly, TO defend h
;. territory from invasion.
nv You think she would not resis
Russian occupation of Bulgaria?
~ No. never
P "Do you think that Russia will 4
Ia cupy Bulgaria."
If she does it Will be with the &C
v. sent of Germany and Austria.
o. Then there would be no war
that ease?"
~, None"
iii Mr.. Forbes spoke with evident {
gust at the mere mention OF any W
ry like disposition on the part of Engla
'ly and, while the hero of more CT
~. paigns than any war correspond
~ living. as will be seen, he takes
to most pacific view of things all arou
id.
| He Could Write.
he 'Tb;e i tho xyav ba fold II Mt no